Our Program and Mission
The Sing For Joy radio program, produced by St. Olaf College, has a simple mission: to explore the weekly themes of Christian worship by providing the best in sacred choral music and thoughtful commentary. The musical performances eloquently “do the talking,” while the concise remarks from host Rev. Alexandra M. Jacob illuminate the meaning of the texts.
A defining trait of Sing For Joy is basing each week’s music on the scriptural lessons specified in the Revised Common Lectionary. This three-year cycle of readings has become the basis for worship in the services that a majority of the worshiping faithful in America attend.
Listeners from divergent backgrounds appreciate Sing For Joy and what it brings them for a multitude of reasons. Certainly, plenty of churchgoers feel that the program complements their weekly worship experience. And many church musicians express their appreciation for the insights and repertoire ideas the program provides. But Sing For Joy also appeals to listeners from faith traditions transcending the kind of Christian orientation one might expect.
For nearly 70 years, that breadth of appeal has spoken to Sing For Joy’s unique presentation of Scripture-based music and related commentary in an engaging, personable and consequential way.